Page 10 - Jewish News_June-July-2021

10A June/July 2021 FEDERATION NEWS

Where your dollars go

The Jewish Federation and Operation Lifeshield:

Working together to save Israeli lives

By Gayle Guynup
This series highlights mission-based programs and projects that are supported by shelter delivery, adults and children at State of Israel was established, and vul-
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Funding for these initiatives is de- the bus stop dived into a ditch behind nerable Israeli communities have been
rived from the Annual Campaign. The series helps to explain where your generous the bus stop or even tried to climb into continually attacked and traumatized
dollars are spent and features certain initiatives that enrich the lives of Jews living a large dirty pipe nearby to save their to this day. With terrorist organizations
in Sarasota-Manatee, local projects with area partners, and overseas programs that lives,” she said. committed to our destruction at both
support the social and humanitarian needs of Jews in Israel and around the world. “Thanks to your generous dona- our Northern and Southern fronts, di-
Your generous support is found in our tenet of Tikkun Olam – repairing the tions, the bus stop now has an Op- saster can strike at any moment. We are
world! eration Lifeshield protective shelter working hard to ensure that all Israelis
t Kfar Maimon, a small Jew- village established in 1959, which now stationed right beside it,” she said. in highly targeted areas will be able to
ish community in southern has a population of 380 people. “Needless to say, the Kfar Maimon reach safety whenever necessary.”
AIsrael (about five miles from “In 2018, explosive and incendi- community is incredibly grateful.” She notes that the most rewarding
the Gaza border), a new bomb shelter ary kites and balloons started being Bob and Esther Heller have generously thing and the most challenging thing
– jointly underwritten by The Jewish launched from the Gaza Strip into made a lead gift to the Bob & Esther about her work with Operation Life-
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and Southern Israel, in addition to the pro- Heller Israel Center and are the name- shield are the same: feeling connected
the Birmingham Jewish Federation – is jectiles, repeatedly setting fields and sakes of the Heller Community Rela- to Israeli communities that are con-
saving lives every day. neighborhoods ablaze,” Tresgallo said, tions Committee. Bob said, “As Jews, stantly under threat of enemy rocket
The shelter was provided by Op- with children and adults alike suffering
eration Lifeshield, an emergency from ongoing traumas.
campaign to save lives in Israel by pro- “Kfar Maimon families only have
viding transportable, above-ground, a 15-second warning to drop what
easily accessible, protective bomb they’re doing, grab their kids and run
shelters to Israeli communities threat- to the nearest bomb shelter,” she ex-
ened by enemy rocket attacks. plained. “You can be at school, at
Howard Tevlowitz, CEO of The work, driving your car, out for a run,
Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Mana- buying groceries or at a school soccer
tee, said, “There is nothing more im- game, and suddenly your proximity to
portant than saving lives and that’s a shelter can become the difference be-
what this is all about. We are working tween life and death. The children in
in a part of Israel where the attacks Kfar Maimon sadly have spent their Bomb shelter at bus stop in Kfar Maimon The shelter is underwritten by two Federations Sheldon Gensler,
come out of Gaza, and residents have entire lives living in this crazy situ- it is our duty to protect Israel. I am so attacks and raising awareness of what
“As part of our projects, we fre-Federation’s first President
only mere seconds to respond. This is ation where they know that terrorist proud that the Federation does such they are going through.
the heart and core of what we do.” rockets can rain down on them at any good work in helping our beloved State
According to Avigail Tresgallo, time. They are constantly looking for of Israel, home to the Jewish people.” quently visit and create connections Staff Report
public relations specialist for Opera- the closest shelter everywhere they go, The Gaza Belt region, where Kfar and friendships with the people in the e offer our condolences
tion Lifeshield, “Over the past decade, just to feel safe.” Maimon is situated, has unfortunately communities we work with, and see to the family of Sheldon
Hamas and other terrorist groups in the The shelter that The Jewish Fed- become the “punching bag” of multi- the strength, resilience and beauty of WGensler, who passed away
Gaza Strip have terrorized civilian ar- eration of Sarasota-Manatee co-spon- ple terrorist groups in Gaza, which are the people and the cities in two of the on April 22, 2021. Sheldon, who was
eas in Southern Israel with more than sored was on Operation Lifeshield’s committed to Israel’s destruction. Ac- greenest and (normally) most peace- 101 years old, was the first president of
18,000 rocket and mortar attacks.” top-priority list. This particular bus cording to Tresgallo, the rocket attacks ful regions of Israel: the North and the The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-
“Operation Lifeshield is a human- stop in Kfar Maimon is heavily used, are unpredictable. A few months can go South. Manatee in 1971-1973.
itarian, nonprofit organization found- serving both as a public bus stop and a by without any rocket attacks, and sud- “Even though I live in Jerusalem, Sheldon helped lay the cornerstone
ed by a small group of American and school bus stop. Prior to this shelter do- denly hundreds of rockets can be fired at I am glued to my phone and my Red for today’s Federation. As written by
Israeli friends,” explained Tresgallo. nation, anyone waiting at the bus stop this region within a single day. There’s Alert rocket siren apps the entire time Sandy Chase in a Jewish News
“Its shelters are constructed in Israel was vulnerable to rocket attacks. been an average of about 1,150 rocket these communities are under rocket article in April 2019 about the
by leading manufacturers of steel-rein- “Imagine,” Tresgallo said, “the attacks per year over the past 10 years. attack, because it is my job to report Federation’s 60 Anniversary
th
forced, pre-cast concrete products, and anxiety of waiting 10-15 minutes for “We want to provide as many of the updates on social media in real time. Celebration, his milestones in-
deployed quickly. Our shelters meet your bus, knowing all too well that a urgently needed shelters as possible There have been times when I’ve re- cluded:
the strictest requirements of the IDF rocket could come your way at any before the next barrage hits. With con- ported on rocket attacks that came Raising money for UJA and
Home Front Command,” she added. time, and you’d have nowhere to run. tinuous threats and attacks from Hamas in nonstop for 48-72 hours. I am ful- ‹ Israel bonds (he was recog-
Kfar Maimon is an agricultural In the event of rocket sirens prior to this terrorists in the south and Hezbollah ly aware that the fear, frustration and nized with the Israel Shalom
terrorists in the north, war is unfortu-
indignation I feel for my fellow Jews
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JEWISH nately always on the horizon in Israel,” during these attacks is barely a fraction ‹ Helping cement an effective

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of the intense emotions the locals are
she said.
working relationship with
Since its founding in 2006, Oper-
going through every single time.
non-Jewish lay and reli-
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EVENTS! ation Lifeshield has placed about 400 many of the ongoing terrorist attacks ‹ Working tirelessly to dis-
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“It’s very frustrating to me that
gious leaders
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protective shelters throughout Israel.
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on these Israeli communities don’t
To pay for the shelters, Operation
continue
discrimination,
Lifeshield reaches out to American
make it into international news. Be-
like penalizing Jewish pub-
cause these attacks are so frequent and
Jewish and Christian Zionist commu-
lic-school students for being
absent during the Jewish
 nities, and looks for grant opportunities common, they have lost their shock ‹ Working with the Sarasota Coun-
factor and have therefore lost the at-
with Federations and organizations.
holidays
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“All of our volunteers and board
tention of most reporters and readers.
The world needs to know what is really
members (other than our executive
teacher guidelines endorsed by
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PA R T I C I PA T I O N N E T WO R K LEARN director) live in the United States happening here. And these Israeli fam- ty School Board to adopt a set of
PARTICIPATION
and are constantly raising aware-
ilies need to know that their cries are
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PARTICIPATION N E T WO R K LE A R N ness about Operation Lifeshield at being heard.” Federation’s Community Relations
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events, club meetings, religious insti- Thankfully, The Jewish Federation Committee
tutions and through fundraising with- of Sarasota-Manatee heard their cries.
in their communities,” Tresgallo said. As Tresgallo points out, “Thanks to
As for the future, “We will continue to the generosity of your community, the FED
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ENJOYMENT
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EN J O Y M EN T ENGAGEMENT BELONGING stand by the people of Israel and pro- shelter now stands next to the previ-
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ENJOYMENT
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EN J O Y M EN T E NG A GE M E NT BELONGING vide lifesaving protection as long as ously unprotected, vulnerable bus stop, we are
JFEDSRQ.org/Events the continuous threat of rocket attacks bringing safety and peace of mind to JFEDSRQ.ORG
JFEDSRQ.org/Events
exists. Unfortunately, these attacks and
Kfar Maimon residents, employees
threats have existed since the modern
and visitors on a daily basis.”
Educating Jewish Minds Engaging Jewish Lives Enriching Jewish Hearts